Plumbing tool

ABSTRACT

A plumbing tool comprising an elongated cylindrical member composed of a cylindrical connector having internally threaded ends, one end of which is adapted to fit over the threaded end of a drain pipe; a large nipple having externally threaded ends has one end received in the threaded opening of the connector opposite from the drain pipe; a cap having a threaded opening is received on the other threaded end of the large nipple; the other end of the cap is closed except for an opening through which the plumber can insert the rotary cleaning tool through the plumbing tool and into the drain pipe; the rotary cable of the rotary cleaning tool can be fed into and out of the drain system through the hole in the cap; the plumbing tool also includes a small nipple which is threaded at both ends, with one end of the small nipple being received in a threaded opening intermediate the ends of the large nipple and at right angles thereto; the other threaded end of the small nipple connects with one end of the hose, the other end of which connects with a faucet.

United States Patent 1191 Wusterfeld [4 1 Aug. 5, 1975 1 1 PLUMBING TOOLMaurice A. Wusterfeld, P.O. Box 404. Lawrence, Kans. 66044 22 Filed:July 22, 1974 [21] App1.No.:490,352

[76] Inventor:

158] Field of Search 4/255, 256. 257; 15/104.l. 15/1043 R. 104.3 SN;134/166 C. 167 C,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 267.306 11/1882 Gall 15/1043SN X 1.437.582 12/1922 Bahr 15/1043 SN 1.845.442 2/1932 Robinson 134/167C 1.900.275 3/1933 Carter et a1 15/1043 SN 1.977.319 10/1934 McEwun134/168 C 2.039.467 5/1936 Walsh 4/255 2.820.467 1/1958 Mattich 4/255 X3.605.135 9/1971 Tun 4/256 3.641.597 2/1972 David et a1. 4/255 PrimaryExaminer-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Wi11iam S. Dorman [57]ABSTRACT A plumbing tool comprising an elongated cylindrical membercomposed of a cylindrical connector having internally threaded ends, oneend of which is adapted to fit over the threaded end of a drain pipe; 21large nipple having externally threaded ends has one end received in thethreaded opening of the connector opposite from the drain pipe; a caphaving a threaded opening is received on the other threaded end of thelarge nipple; the other end of the cap is closed except for an openingthrough which the plumber can insert the rotary cleaning tool throughthe plumbing tool and into the drain pipe; the rotary cable of therotary cleaning tool can be fed into and out of the drain system throughthe hole in the cap; the plumbing tool also includes a small nipplewhich is threaded at both ends. with one end of the small nipple beingreceived in a threaded opening intermediate the ends of the large nippleand at right angles thereto; the other threaded end of the small nippleconnects with one end of the hose. the other end of which connects witha faucet.

2 Claims. 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED 51975 3.897, 601

SHEET 1 PLUMBING TOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a plumbing tool and more particularly a plumbing tool whichwill assist the plumber in feeding a rotary cable into a drain pipe, indetermining the removal of the obstruction in the drain pipe, and incleaning the rotary cable as it is withdrawn from the drain pipe afterthe obstruction has been removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Numerous devices have been proposed in thepast to assist the plumber in feeding a rotary cleaning tool into adrain pipe. Some devices, such as those disclosed in US. Pat. No.1,796,340 also include the introduction of water into and through theplumbing tool; however, in connection with the last mentioned patent,specific provision is made for a packing to exclude the possibility ofleakage of water. In the present invention the water will leak out ofthe opening to indicate that the obstruction is still there, whichfeature is not shown or suggested in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves a plumbing toolin the form of an elongated cylindrical member which has an externallythreaded open end at one end thereof, and closed end at the opposite endthereof except for a hole which permits the introduction of a rotarycleaning tool through the plumbing tool and into the drain pipe. Thecylindrical member is also provided with a conduit connecting at rightangles to the cylindrical member intermediate the ends thereof. Theconduit connects with a hose the other end of which is adapted toconnect to a faucet. When the plumber feels that he has removed theobstruction after feeding the rotary cable into the drain pipe, he turnson the faucet; if no water runs out of the hole in the plumbing tool, heknows that the obstruction has been removed; if water does run out ofthe hole in the plumbing tool, the plumber knows that he must feed thecable further into the drain pipe; a pail can be placed beneath theplumbing tool to catch any water that runs out of the hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevational view, withcertain parts in section, showing the plumbing tool of the presentinvention connected to a drain system for the cleaning thereof; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective, on a slightly enlarged scale, of the plumbingtool itself and showing a portion of the rotary cable which is fedtherethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings indetail, FIG. 1 shows a conventional sink attached to a wall 12 in anyconvenient or conventional manner (not shown). Disposed above the sinkis shown a faucet 14 having a conventional handle 16. The faucetconnects to a pipe 18 through the wall and to a source (not shown) ofhot or cold water in a conventional manner. A drain pipe 20 is alsoshown projecting through the wall 12. The lefthand end of the drain pipe20 would connect with the drain system (not shown) in any convenientmanner 2 (not shown). The right-hand end 22 of the drain pipe .portion20 is threaded as shown and would normally connect with a U-tube (notshown) the other end of which would connect with the sink connector 24.

For the purpose of describing the present invention, it will be assumedthat the aforementioned U-tube has been removed and a pail 26 is placedon the floor 28 to catch any drippings from the connector 24 or from theend of the drain pipe 20. The plumbing tool 30 of the present inventioncan now be attached to the threaded end 22 of the drain pipe 20 as willbe described below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the plumbing tool 30 of the present inventionincludes a connector 32 having a lefthand end 34 which is internallythreaded (not shown) to permit attachment to the threaded end 22 of thedrain pipe 20. The right-hand end 36 of the connector 32 is alsointernally threaded (not shown) so as to threadedly engage the threadedend 38 of the large nipple 40. The right-hand end 42 of the nipple 40 isalso threaded so as to engage the inner threaded end 44 of a cap 46. Thecap 46 is provided with a hole 48 to prevent the introduction of arotary cable 50 into the plumbing tool and through the drain 20. Therotary cable 50 will have a cleaning or cutting attachment (not shown)attached to the lefthand end for cleaning the drain 20 as the cable 50is rotated.

The large nipple has a smaller nipple 52 attached at the right thereto.The lower end of the nipple 52 is threaded and engages a threaded holein the wall of the large nipple 40. The upper end 54 of the nipple 52 isalso threaded and engages the inner threaded end of a hose connector 56which is attached to a hose 58. The opposite end of the hose 58 isattached to a connector or adapter 60 which is adapted to fit over theend of the faucet 14.

In operation, an obstruction in the drain 20 is removed as follows: TheU-tube (not shown) referred to above has been removed and the assemblyof the tool 30 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the end of the drain pipe20 by screwing the threaded end 34 of the coupling 32 over the threadedend 22. Thereafter, the adapter 60 is attached to the faucet 14. Therotary cable 50 is fitted into the nipple 40 through the hole 48 and therotary tool 50 is rotated and advanced into the drain pipe 20 and intothe drain system (not shown) connected therewith. The cable 50 iscontinually rotated and advanced until the plumber senses that he hasreached and removed the obstruction. At this point, the handle 16 of thefaucet 14 is turned on to allow water to pass through the hose 58 intothe tool 30. If the obstruction has been removed, this water will flowthrough the drain pipe 20; if the obstruction has not been removed or ifan additional obstruction is present, the water will flow out of theopening 48 and into the bucket 26. Of course, if the obstruction has notbeen removed, the faucet 14 is turned off and the cable 50 is furtherrotated and advanced until the obstruction is removed. Testing forremoval of the obstruction will be the same as described above.

After the obstruction has been removed from the drain pipe 20, asindicated by the flowing water test described above, the water is lefton and the cable 50 is withdrawn (preferably while rotating) from thedrain pipe 20 through the opening 48 and the cap 46. The running of thewater during the withdrawal operation serves to wash debris from thecable 50 so that the same is relatively clean.

Thus, it appears that the present invention provides a plumbers tool 30comprising a hollow cylindrical member composed of the connector 32, thelarge nipple 40, and the cap 46. The resulting cylindrical member has athreaded opening 34 for attachment to a drain pipe. The opposite end ofthe resulting cylindrical member is closed except for the hole 48therein. The small nipple S2 constitutes a conduit connecting at rightangles to the resulting cylindrical member. The hole 48 permits theintroduction of a rotary cleaning tool through the plumbing tool andthrough the drain 20. It should be noted that the hole 48 issufficiently large to permit the introduction of this rotary plumbingtool. During the operation of the rotary plumbing tool, the rotary cablewill pass through the hole 48. Thus the cable 50 is loosely received inthe hole 48 so that water can pass out of the hole when the drainremains obstructed.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relationto the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other andfurther modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, maybe made within the spirit and scope of this invention,

What is claimed is:

l. A plumbers tool comprising a hollow cylindrical member having athreaded opening at one thereof for attachment to a drain pipe, theopposite end of said member being closed except for a hole therein forloosely receiving therethrough a rotary cable for a rotary cleaningtool, a conduit connected to said cylindrical member intermediate theends thereof and at right angles thereto, and a hose connected at oneend to said conduit and having an adapter at the other end thereofengagable with a faucet.

2. A plumber's tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cylindricalmember comprises a cylindrical connector having threaded openings at theopposite ends thereof, one of said threaded openings of said cylindricalconnector constituting the threaded opening for attachment to said drainpipe, a large cylindrical nipple having externally threaded ends, onethreaded end of which is received in the threaded opening at theopposite end of said connector from said drain pipe, a cap having athreaded opening received on said large nipple at the threaded endthereof opposite from said cylindrical connector, the other end of saidcap having said closed end with said hole therein, and a small nipplethreaded at both ends, one end of which is received in a threadedopening in said large nipple intermediate the ends thereof, said smallnipple constituting said conduit.

1. A plumber''s tool comprising a hollow cylindrical member having athreaded opening at one thereof for attachment to a drain pipe, theopposite end of said member being closed except for a hole therein forloosely receiving therethrough a rotary cable for a rotary cleaningtool, a conduit connected to said cylindrical member intermediate theends thereof and at right angles thereto, and a hose connected at oneend to said conduit and having an adapter at the other end thereofengagable with a faucet.
 2. A plumber''s tool as set forth in claim 1wherein said cylindrical member comprises a cylindrical connector havingthreaded openings at the opposite ends thereof, one of said threadedopenings of said cylindrical connector constituting the threaded openingfor attachment to said drain pipe, a large cylindrical nipple havingexternally threaded ends, one threaded end of which is received in thethreaded opening at the opposite end of said connector from said drainpipe, a cap having a threaded opening received on said large nipple atthe threaded end thereof opposite from said cylindrical connector, theother end of said cap having said closed end with said hole therein, anda small nipple threaded at both ends, one end of which is received in athreaded opening in said large nipple intermediate the ends thereof,said small nipple constituting said conduit.